Law enforcement deaths down in 2012; firefighter deaths unchanged

Washington – The number of law enforcement officers killed on duty in 2012 decreased 23 percent from the previous year, while the number of firefighter fatalities remained unchanged, according to preliminary data.

In a Dec. 26 report (.pdf file), the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund noted the decline to 127 officer deaths follows two years during which on-duty deaths rose.

Of the 83 on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2012, nearly half were due to heart attacks or strokes, according to a provisional report from the U.S. Fire Administration.